Magazine breech-loading gun



(No Model.)

D. S. WEST.

MAGAZINE BRBBGH LOADING GUN.

PIIGUWMNINMWNWWMANG Patented Ju1y.12, 1892i.

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'UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE..

DERRICK S. VEST, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, OF THREE-FOURTHS TO JOHN W'. DREW, OF SAME PLACE, AND CHARLES H. FISH, OF MANCHESTER, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

MAGAZINE BREECH-LOADING GUN.

ySPECFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 478,728, dated July 12, 1892. Application led September 11, 1891. Serial No. 405,425. (No model.)

To a/ZZ whom t may concern: breech-block and ofthe part of its operating Beit known that LDERRICK S. VEST, a citimechanism directly connected with it, and a zen of the United States of America, and a transverse and vertical section of the receiver resident of the city of Boston, in the county at each side of the breech-block and said 5 of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have mechanism. Fig. 8 is a detail section, here- 55 invented certain new and useful Improveinafter referred to.

ments in Breech-Loading Firearms, of which In the drawings, A is the gun-barrel.

the following is a full, clear, and exact descrip- B is the magazine-barrel for cartridges, and

tion. lying under and lengthwise of the barrel A Io This invention in breech-loading firearms and C is the stock, attached to the chamber or 6o consists of improvements, substantially as receiver D D2 in upper and lower communihereinafter described, and pointed out in the cating portions and held in both barrels A claims, on the contrivances embraced by my and C at their breech ends, all as well known, application,SerialNo.396,965, for Letters Patexcept as hereinafter explained, and forming I5 ent of the United States; but, as will be herenopart of this invention. 65 inafter obvious, theyare in some,it` not in all, The upper portion D of the receiver D D2 respects as well applicable to breech-loading extends directly rearward from the breech of firearms of other constructions and arrangethe barrel A to and terminates ata fixed abutments. ment or wall C2 of the receiver. This Wall is 2o In the drawings forming part of this specidirectly opposite to and in line with the bar- 7o fication, Figure l is a central, longitudinal, rel A. The lower portion of the receiver is beand vertical section of the gun and magazine low and continues rearward ot' said upper por- 1arrels at their breech ends and of -the retion and of its said wall C2. The receiver at ceiver and stock in part, and a side View of its upper side is open and is closed bya cover z5 the breech-block closed, of the hammer at rest C2, which is adapted to be moved rectilinearly 75 on he rear end of said block, of the cartridgeforward and backward on grooves or ways C4 carrier in its normal position, and of the sevat the in'ner face of the opposite side walls C5 eral mechanisms for operating them in their of the receiver D D2. respective corresponding positions. Fig. 2 is EE2isthebreech-block,divided transversely 3o a similar section and view to Fig. l, but showinto two sections or parts, joined together by 8o ing the breech-block withdrawn or opened, a hinge joint or pivot E2, which is entered the cartridge-carrier in its position presenthorizontally across the section E and through ing a cartridge for entranceinto t-he gun-bara forward projection E10 of the section E2, rel, the hammer at full-cock, and the several having an arm E11 extended upward and an- 35 mechanisms for operating them in their regularly from it, and it and said arm iitted 85 spective corresponding positions. Fig. 3 is a and swinging within a slot or way of the fortransverse vertical section, line 3 3,.Fig. l. ward breech-block section E and all other- Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical section, line 4 wise, so that the breech-block sections can be et, Fig. 2. Fig. is a central longitudinal verbutted end to cnd,and thereby closed against 4o tical section of the breech-block, the hammer, and made continuous with each other and so 9o the cartridge-carrier, and-the several mechanthat they can be swung and placed at an anisms for operating them in their respective gie to and thus opened from each other, and, corresponding positions, excepting, however, furthermore, the angular projection E10 E11 of that in some few portions the parts are rethe section E2 moved, as the case may be,

45 moved either in whole or part, all as will hereeither forward or backward, in the slot of the 95 inafter'appear. Fig. 6 is a plan View of the forward breech-block section E, as and for a cartridge-carrier in its normal position and a purpose as will hereinafter appear. transverse and horizontal section of the re- The sectional breech-block, straightened, is ceiver at and along each side of the carrier. practically of a length equal to the upper por- 5o Fig. '7 is an elevation of the rear end of the tion D of the receiver D D2, and thus placed roo l. l I ,s f i it [ills said portion D from end to end and its forward end is in position, closing upon the breech of the barrel, and its other or farther end at rest against and in close contact with the wall or abutment C2 of the receiver.

The sectional breech-block, placed with its sections at an angle to each other, as stated, is then practically of less length than the upper portion D of the receiver, and this length is such and the block lies in such manner relative to said portion D of the receiver that a sufficient part of the upper portion D of the receiver directly from the breech of the barrel is open to receive and enable a cartridge to be inserted in and its shell afterward to be Withdrawn from the barrel.

The section E of the breech-block E E2 when the block is in the upper portion of the receiver is forward of its section E2, and preferably itis the shorter in length. The forward breech-section E on its opposite sides and the opposite inner faces of theopposite side walls C5 0f the receiver have longitudinal and engaging ribs ELL and grooves severally extending lengthwise of said breech-block section and said side walls and all, so that the section being moved rectilinearly forward to and backward from the breech of the barrel will be positively guided, and in this connection it is to be understood that for each of said movements of said forward section the rear section of the block is required to be suitably situated, all substantially as hereinafter explained.

The rear section E2 of the breech-block E E2 at its farther end portion and on its opposite side has similar projected lugs E6, and the opposite inner faces of the side walls C5 of the stock C have similar two-part grooves E7 Es to receive the lugs. The part ET of each groove E7 E8 leads downward and at right angles and directly off from the rear end 0f a side groove E5 of the receiver, and the part E8 leads directly from the lower end of the part ET on a downward rearward incline and into the lower and rearward extended portion D2 of thc receiver D D2, all so that the rear section E2 of the breech-block can be moved downward from and out of the upper portion D and into and along the lower portion D2 of the receiver, drawing` the Yforward Section E of the breech-block with it and along the upper portion of the receiver and back from the breech of the barrel and placing the breech-block at an angle, as stated, and so that it can be moved upward from the lower portion D2 of and into the upper portion D of the receiver, straightening the breech-block, as stated,and placing it lengthwise along said upper portion D of the receiver and end to end between the breech of the barrel and the abut1nentwallC2 of the receiver. By the first movement of the breechblock the upper portion D of the receiver D D2 is open for a cartridge to be inserted into and after its discharge for the shell to be removed from the barrel, and by the second movement said portion D of the receiver D D2 is filled with the breech-block and thereby the cartridge in the barrel and when tired is confined by said block against backward movement because of the then resistance thereto of the rearward abutment-wall C2 of the receiver, against which rests the rear end of the breech-block, and all otherwise, substantially as described in the application aforesaid and forming no part of this invention.

E F are links, one each side of the rear section E2 of the breech-block. Each link at one end is jointed, as particularly shown, to said block by the studs or lugs E( of said section, and at its opposite end each is jointed by a common cross-pin E, held on both to the forward end of a rod or link F2, that at its rear end is jointed to the forward end of a plate or block G, held on and at the under and outer side of the receiver, and thereon adapted to be moved lengthwise forward and backward and for a distance limited and determined by the length of a slot GG in the under wall D3 of the receiver. The slide block or plate G in both its forward or normal position, Fig. l, and its rearward position, Fig. 2, is back of the breech-block.

G2 is an elongated or looped-shaped handle held on and projected from the under side of the slide-block G. This handle or slide is in forward and rearward sections, and each section contains and has respectively a trigger H H2 and a lever-catch S S2, respectively fulcrumed on the slide and otherwise, as will hereinafter appear.

The trigger H H2 is for action on the sear K, fulcrumed at K2 on the receiver. The catch S S2 is for holding and fastening the slide G against accidental rearward movement from its forward position, Fig. 1, and to that end its arm S2 has opposite side lugs S3 in position for engagement with lateral notches G2, one at each side, and of a depth less than that of the guiding groove or way G6 for the movement of said slide. This engagement of catch S .S2 with the side notches Gr7 of the slideway G, as above stated, is automatically made by means of a flat bent spring S4, which is secured to the arm S2 of said catch S S2, and has a rest on the upper wall D4 of a chamber Dof th'e receiver and above the groove GG. Said spring S4 crosses said chamber D5 from side to side and from its under to its upper wall, and is so fitted to them as to shut off said chamber against the admission to it of extraneous matters as to the rearward end portion of the slideway Gf", traversed by said catchV S S2 in the forward and backward movement of the slide G. In both of said movements of the catch S S2 its side lugs S3 rest and slide upon the under Wall D2 of said chamber D5. A

Gs are grooves, one at each side and running lengthwise of the slide G, and within and outside of the receiver the slide by its grooved portions laps beyond the opposite ICO IIO

parallel edges of its said guide-groove G,

and thus with the slide in its normal position, j' Fig. l, said groove Gr6 of the under wall D2 ofi the receiver is shut off from the entrance of extraneous matters therethrough to the receiver as to the forward end portion of said groove traversed by the slide in its forward and backward movements, as have been de? ward, as well known.

the breech-block when the breech-block is' closed or is within the upper portion D of the receiver D D2, and all otherwise for thehammer L at its forward end portion to pass through the iixed wall C2 of said portion D of the receiver and into contact thereat with i the end of the breech-block.

L7 is a spiral springlying lengthwise within the guideway L6 for and confined end to end between the rearward end faces, respectively, of the hammer-bolt and said guideway. The backward or cocking movement of the hammer is against and its forward and firing movement is by the reaction of said spring. For convenience in cocking the hammer by the hand the hammer has a finger-piece or handle L5, engaging by its shank L8 and adapted to move lengthwise a slot L2, which is at and along the upper wall of the guideway LG for the hammer, and is of suitable' length, and also is covered or shielded against the passage therethrough of extraneous matters by an extension L10, both forward and rearward of said handle. This slot L9 and the shank connection of hammer L and its handle L5 severally act as guides to the forward and backward movement of the hammer, and if said bolt is cylindrical, as shown, also to hold it against turning in its said guideway L, and so insurethe always proper presentation of the half and full cocking notches L2L3 at the under side of the hammer for the sear K at its forward end K4 to engage either of them as the hammer is moved backward to either half or fully cock it. The lia-lf-cocking notch L2 of the hammeris undercut and the engaging end KA1 of the sear is of corresponding hook shape, all so that with the sear engaged with said notch the sear cannot be released from the hammer by the trigger H H2. The full-cooking notch L2 of the hammer is not undercut, thus allowing the sear in engagement with it to be released by the trigger H H2 when desired to throw the hammer. The sear K lies lengthwise in a slot L11, and its fulcrum K2 is under the guideway L11 for the hammer.

K3 is a flat spring, at one end rigidly held on the receiver and at the other end at rest on and engaged with ashoulderKsatthe upper side of the sear, and all so that the scar will, as stated, automatically engage the hammer as the hammer is drawn or .forced back and can be disengaged, as stated, from the hammer by means of the arm H2 of the trigger H H2 acting on the downward and "rearward extension K1 ot the sear'K, provided, of course, the trigger is in the position shown in Fig. 1, and it is then pressed or pulled back- E12 is a recess or depression at the rearward end of the breech-block and of suitable shape to receive the forward end portion of the hammer, and all so that with the hammer engaged with said recess E13 of the breech-block the breech-block, as the gun is fired, is made fast against accidental movement from its closed or firing position within the upper portion D of the receiver.

The hammer at its forward end portion and below the engagement, as stated, of said .portion with the breech-block, has an end face L12, which is below said engaging end of the hammer and'is opposite a cross-pin F2 of the link F of. the double-link connection, before explained, of breech and sliding blocks E, E2, y

and G, that, at the beginning and for the first part of the opening or withdrawing movement of the breech-block caused by the rearward slide of the slide-block G, works on the hammer at its said face L12, and thereby forces it backward for a portion of the length of its backwardmovement, preferably sufficient to half-cock it, on which by continuing said movement of the breech-block the rear end of the rearward section of the breech-block comes to a bearing on said end face L12 of the hammer, thereby further forcing` the hammer backward and to full-cock, whereupon said rear end of the breech-block escapes from said face L12 of the hammer,

IOO

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and the breech-block continues and completes its withdrawing movement, as before explained, and said end face L12 of the hammer then enters to a groove E14, Fig. 5, at and along the upper side of the rear section of the breech-block. Said face L12 of hammer L, against which the cross-pin F2 of link F and rear end of breech-block works to cock the hammer, all as explained, is particularly shown as at the forwardend of a dog L12, that at its rear end is entered into a recess L14 at the under side and is hung on a pivot L15 of the hammer, all so that the dog can have a limited swing vertically to enable it to make better contact in the working thereon of said cross-pin F4 of the link F, and the rear end of the breech-block, as has been described.

M M2 is the firing-pin. This pin is in two sections, one for each section of and together they extend for the full length of the breechblock, and the rear end of the section M2 is in positionto be struck by the hammer L, and the forward end of the section M is in position to strike and thereby-to discharge the cartridge with which the gun barrel is charged. The forward end of the rear section M2 of firing-pin has a shoulder M5, and the IIO 4 vtraves bore of said section has a similar shoulder, all so Vas to allow said section of the firing-pin to move sufficiently along its section of the breech-block to fire the cartridge, as explained, and yet hold it against accidental escape from said section. The forward section M of the tiring-pin has a slot M? for a portion of its length. and this slot receives the angular portion E of the arm extension at the forward end of the rear section of the breech-block, all so that the forward section of the firingpin is free for lengthwise movement to strike and thereby to discharge, as described,'a cartridge in the gun-barrel, and is secure against accidental escape, and, further, on the backward and withdrawing movement of the breech-block toopen the breech of the gunbarrel said section M of the firing-pin is positively drawn backward and placed to the rear of the front end of the forward section of the breech-block.

N is a spring-finger lying along and held on the upper side ofand projecting by its downward hook end N2 forward of the front face of the forward section E of the breechblock. This spring-finger is the cartridgeextractor, and for that purpose it engages by its hook end the rim of the cartridge-shell, so that as the breech-block is drawn back from the breech of the barrel the shell is withdrawn from the barrel for being afterward ejected or re moved through the then open top of the upper portion D of the receiver, because of the simultaneous backward movement of the cover C3, attached to the forward section of the breech-block.

O is an ear-piece or lug rigidly held on and projecting downward from the forward section of the breech-block and when the breechblock is filling the upper portion D of the receiver D D2 standing centrally across the breech of the magazine-barrel. This lug O at the breech of the magazine-barrel, as stated, holds the cartridge or cartridge-follower, as the case may be, which is presented toward itin and from leaving said barrel, it being of course understood that the magazine-barrel is adapted to force a cartridge or said follower out at the breech of said barrel, all as well known. The lug O as the forward section of the breech-block moves from the breech of the gun-barrel A opens the magazine-barrel for the delivery of acartridge then presented at its breech, and this cartridge as it is delivered enters and is finally placed lengthwise upon the upper side of a block or cartridgecarrier P. This cartridge-carrier lies lengthwise between the side walls C5 of the receiver, and its forward end is free and its rear end is hung on a center or fulcrum pin P2 of the receiver. The cartridge-carrier in its normal position-that is, when the breech-block is closed on the breech of the gun-barrel and its lug O is across the breech of the magazinebarrel B-rests by its front and rear legs P3 P4 on the floor of the receiver and is wholly below the breech of the magazine-barrel, but

with its upper and transversely concave and cartridge-receiving surface in line with the lower side of the magazine-barrel to receive a cartridge from said barrel.` From this position of rest of the cartridge-carrier the carrier, swinging on its center pin P2, can be placed in a position inclining downward and rearward from the breech of the gun-barrel, or, in other words, in a position presenting the cartridge placed and lying upon it substantially in line with and its ball end at the breech of the gun-barrel. In this upward swing of the cartridge-carrier the next following cartridge of the magazine-barrel is held therein in the first instance by the bearing against it of the ball end of the cartridge on the carrier, and which at its opposite end is held against lengthwise movement on the carrier by its rest against the front edge of the lug O of the breech-block, and in the latter instance, and while the cartridge-carrier remains in its said upper portion and until its return to its normal position, by its forward end P5.

PG is a vertical and longitudinal slot of the cartridge-carrier, and it has at its opposite ends rearward and downward reclining and cam-acting walls P7 P8, respectively, the one P7 at the rear end for the' abutment of the cross-pin O2 at the lower end portion of the lug O of the breech-block as said block moves backward, and the other PS at the front end for the `abutment of said cross-pin as the breech-block moves forward, and all so that in the first instance to tilt or swing the cartridge-carrier upward and into the position stated relative to the gun-barrel and in the second instance to tilt or swing the cartridgecarrier downward and into the position as stated relative to the magazine-barrel.

R R are vertical arms, one at each side of and each intermediately fulcrumed on and extended above the upper side of the cartridge-carrier, where each vertically is of bow shape and transversely and horizontally conveX at its edge toward the side of the carrier. These arms are for holding the cartridge which is'on the cartridge-carrier from being thrown upward and off of the carrier as the carrier is being swung upward. To this end saidarms R are closed over the top of the cartridge by the action of the upper and cam-shaped end R3 of each vertical curving groove R2 at the inner face of each side wall C5 of the receiver, (see Fig. 3,) and from these said cams the upper ends of said arms on the downward movement of the carrier withdraw and enter into the deeper portion of the grooves in time for them to be pressed apart by and thus to allow the rim of the cartridge to pass between them as the cartridge is forced forward by the breech-block in its forward movement into the gun-barrel.

Q is the cartridge-ej ector. This ejector consists of a plate, which is located in a vertical slit and has its lower end portion fulcrumed by the cross-pin O2 on said lu g O of the breech- IOO IIO

block and at its upper end portion a circular running slot Q2 and pin Q3 connection with said lug to allow the swing to a limited distance of the ejector on said lug O.

Q4 is an angular notch at the cornerof the front and upper edges of the ejector. The ejector in its normal position projects at its rear edge beyond the rear edge of the lug O, and there ithas a bearing against the free end of a bent spring Q5, which is held on the under side of the rear section of the breechblock, and allso that asthe breech-block is moving backward, extracting by the extractor N the cartridge-shell from the gun-barrel, the rim of the cartridge at its lower side will be seated in the angular notch Q4 of the ejector, then suitably pressed forward therefor by the spring Q, and iinally when the cartridge is wholly out of the gun-barrel it will be thrown or jumped out of the receiver at its open up` per side by a further and quick-acting pressure of said spring on the ejector, and which takes place before the lug O of the breechblock has reached and 'begun to act on the rear incline or cam P7 of the cartridge-carrier to tilt the carrier upward, as has been eX- plained.

Asis obvious, the foregoing description substantially embraces, but separately stated, the operations ofthe several mechanisms making up the gun of this invention, and therefore it is now deemed necessary only to observe that said several operations are of course properly timed relatively to each other, and all to the end of opening the breech of and extracting and ejecting the waste cartridge shell from the gun-barrel, and delivering and inserting a cartridge in and closing the breech of the gun-barrel, together with cocking the hammer and placing the operating-trigger in position, when pulled, to free the hammer, and therewith and thereby fire the cartridge in the gun-barrel.

The upper portion D of the receiver D D2 for the forward section of the breech-block is cut away at E15 for a sufficient depth and length to allow said section and also the rear section of the breech-block and the connecting-links F F5 to be all drawn therethrough out of the receiver, first, however, having removed a cross-pin Ej of the receiver, provided as a guard against the forward section of the breech-block accidentally rising when moving through the rear end portion of its guiding-groove of the receiver, and alsohaving disconnected the link F3 from the slideblock G, and which for this purpose only is connected to said slide just outside of the receiver.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a breech-loading iirearm, in combination, a receiver having a guideway Gi along its under side and said way having a side notch or notches G7 G7, a slide G, held on and adapted to move lengthwise of said Way and suitably connected to the breech-block to move said block to open and close the breech of the gun, a chamber D5 of and within the receiver and lengthwise of the rearward part of said guideway G6, and a trigger H H2 and alevercatch S S2, both independently fulcrumed on the slide, the trigger in advance of the catch and with the slide closed, so as to have the trigger in position to release the hammer and the arm S2 of said catch by side projections S5, adapted to engage with and disengage from said notches and to lap over and travel on the receiver at the sides of said way, and also adapted to close said chamber D5 and said way as the slide is moved forward and backward along said Way, substantially as described, for the purposes specied.

2. In a breech-loading firearm, in combination, a breech-block in sections transversely of its length and said sections hinged and butted end to end and adapted placed end to end to close and placed at an angle with each other to open the breech of the gun, a link F, pivoted to the rear section of the breechblock and having an abutment F2 and otherwise suitably connected to move said breechblock to place its sections as aforesaid, a hammer L, held on and adapted to. slide in a suitable guideway to be cocked and to discharge the gun, and an abutment L12, held on and moving with said link andthe rear section of said breech-block relatively adapted to contact in the movement of said breech-block to open the breech of the gun, substantially as described, for the purposes specified.

3. In a breech-loading firearm, in combination, a breech-block in sections transversely of its length and said sections hinged and abutted end to end and adapted placed end to end to close and placed at an angle with each other to open the breech of the gun, means adapted to move said breech-block to place its sections as stated, and a hammer, having its striking` end and the rear end of the breech-block struck by itin the discharge of the arm relatively adapted to interlock or engage with each other, substantially as described, for the purpose specified.

4. In a breech-loading firearm, in combination, a breech-block in sections transversely of its length and said sections hinged and butted end to end and adapted placed end to end to close and placed at an angle with each other to open the breech of the gun, means adapted to move said breech-block to place its sections as stated, a firing-pin in sections, one to each section of and with the breechblock butted end to end in line witheach other and the forward section having a lengthwise slot M5, and an angular arm extension E, held on the section of the breech-block neXt to and pivoted on the forward breech-block section and entered into said slot of said section of the firing-pin, substantially as described, for the purpose specified.

5. In a breech-loading firearm,in combination, a breech-block in sections transversely IOO IIO

of its length and said sections hinged and butted end to end and adapted placed end to end to close and placed atan angle with each other to open the breech of the gun, means adapted to move said breech-block to place its sections as stated, a cartridge-extractor and a cartridge-ejector both held on and moving with the forward section of said breechblock and the latter consisting, essentially, of a vertical plate at its lower end fulcrumed and at its upper end having a notch to contact with the cartridge-rim,and aspring held on the section next to the forward section of the breech-block and adapted to bear on the rear edge of said plate, substantially as describd, for the purpose specified.

6. In a magazine breech-loading firearm having a magazine-barrel below the gun-barrel and open at its breech end, in combination, a breech-block adapted to open and close the breech of the gun-barrel, a dependentlug` O, held on and moving with said breech-block and at its lower end portion having a side projecting pin or pins O2, and a cartridge-carrier P, located below and in line with the breech-block and at its rear end fulcrumed to swing vertically and having` a longitudinal slot P, with downward and rearwardly-inclined and cam edgesP7 Pforthe travel of said lug Oand its abutment on said cams, substantially as described, for the purposes specified.

7. In a breech-loading Iirearm, a barrel, a stock, and a receiver, an abutment in the receiver to the rear of and in line with the barrel, a breech-block resting when in closed position with one end against the abutment in the receiver and the other closing the breech ci' lthe barrel, said breech-block being divided transversely into front and rear sections hinged to each other, an undercut recess in the rear end ot' the rear section of the breechbolt, and a spring actuated bolt passing through the abutmentin the receiver and entering said undercut recess, whereby the breech-bolt is locked in ring position, all substantially as described.

8. In a breech-loading gun, a barrel, a stock, and a receiver, an abutment in the receiver to the rear of and in line with the barrel, a breech-block resting when in closed position with one end against the abutment in the receiver and the other closing the breech of the barrel, said breech-block being divided transversely into front and rear sections hinged to each other, an undercut recess in the rear end of the rear section of the breech-bolt, a sectional tiring-pin passing through the sweet-ions of said bolt and terminating in said recess, and a spring-actuated firing-bolt passing through the abutment in the receiver and entering said undercut recess, whereby the breech-bolt is locked in tiring position, all substantially as described.

9. In a breech-loading firearm, a breechblock moving horizontally rearward to open the breech, a lug depending from the front end ot" the breech-block across the mouth ot' the magazine, a cartridge-carrienhinged at its rear end in the receiver beneath the breechblock, a slot in said carrier, through which said depending lug passes on the opening of the breech-block, grooves in the side walls of said slot, terminating in a downwardly and rearwardly inclined cam-surface, and laterally-projecting pins on said lug traveling in said grooves and engaging said cam-surface, all substantially as described.

lO. In a breech-loading firearm, a transversely-divided breech-block having its sections hinged together, the front section moving in guideways horizontally rearward and the rear section obliquely downward and rearward to open the breech, an ejector-lever pivoted in a slot in a lower depending portion of the front section of the breech-block, a spring attached to the rear section thereof and bearing against the rear face of the ejector, and an abutment in the receiver near the limit of the rearward throw of the breech-block and `in the path of said ejector-lever, all substantially as described.

ll. In abreech-loading firearm, a magazine, a barrel, a stock, and a receiver, a cartridgecarrier located inthe receiver, means for moving it up and down in a vertical plane, curved levers pivoted to and projecting from the opposite sides of said carrier, the pivots being intermediate the ends of said levers, and grooves in the opposite sides of the receiver, within which said levers travel on the upward and downward movement of the carrier, said grooves terminating both at the top and bottom in inwardly -inclined cam-surfaces, whereby the levers are opened by the lowering of the carrier and closed by the elevation thereof, all substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

DERRICK S. VEST.

Vitnesses:

ALBERT W. BROWN, FRANCES M. BROWN.

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